Book Review: The Daughter-in-Law

Reviewed By: NH Storm

[2 stars]

The Daughter-in-Law Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Diana Diamond
Class/Genre: Mystery
St. Martins, 2003; 373 pages
location New York City, Central America, Belize

Is Nicole just a poor waif from the wrong side of the tracks trying to make a go in the Windy City as an actress? Or is she the gold digger that rich, tycoon, playboy Jonathan Donner as his mother believes? Was it a chance meeting between Nicole and Jonathan or a coldly calculated one? How low will Alexandra go before she proves that Nicole is definitely not suitable to be her son's wife? When will Jonathan's father realize to what extreme his wife is sinking?

After leaving Chicago and all its secrets, Nicole heads for New York after deciding that there are many more talented, beautiful women looking for a big break taking a position as a Wall Street broker, which is "the fastest way to riches" according to Nicole. After meeting billionaire extrodinaire,Jonathan Donner, during a sky dive weekend, a romance as fast as a tornado ensues leaving Nicole as Mrs. Jonathan Donner much to the chagrin of his family, especially his mother who asks the Donner family's chief of security to delve into the cobwebs of Nicole's past. Someone else from Nicole's past surfaces looking for his share of the Donner fortune, threatening to ruin Nicole if she does not cooperate.

Any more information will be a spoiler . More than quarter of this book describes the "life styles of the rich and famous" with homes in Newport, and in Manhattan, parties, jets, and trips most of us can only fantasize about, this book reminded me of the television show of the same name. After 200 pages, did you finally get to glimpse any action with an attack on Nicole. Then it took another 100 pages before a hint that an deadly accident was more than just that, an accident. The book coasted along with more promises but when the book picks up, it picked up with at least to me a pretty shocking ending.

NH Storm

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, NH Storm